UNREPENTANT
TO THE END

Topics: Atheism; Death; Hard-heartedness; Repentance; Stubbornness

References: Acts 3:19; Hebrews 3:7–8

When my father was in intensive care, a priest was sent, presumably to administer last rites. After ascertaining the purpose of the visit, my father quickly dismissed the priest and sent him out. The doctor later said, “They say there are no atheists in the trenches, but … whew!”

Dad wouldn’t let the priest do any sort of cursory prayer, Hail Mary, anything. But see, my father had as much patience for religion as he did for solicitors ringing the bell.

—Dave Eggers, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (Simon & Schuster, 2000)